HEALTH RESEARCH AGENDA FOR THE CARIBBEAN
Methods
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t the onset, a Steering Committee was established to provide project oversight. It also had a key role in ensuring that the process was transparent and inclusive. It comprised of two Chief Medical Officers and three senior Caribbean Research Scientists. The main responsibilities of the Steering Committee were to supervise, co-ordinate, and provide advice to the team conducting the work; review and approve the methodology; review reports; and provide general feedback. Technical support for the development of the Agenda was guided by the Council on Health Research for Development (COHRED). It provided key technical support and has supported the development of Research Agendas in countries globally for over fifteen (15) years as part of its mandate to strengthen health research systems. Research Agendas were developed for each of the eight CCH III Programme Areas with priority topics being identified for the sub-priorities of each Area (See Table 1). The electronic media, that is, emails, telephone calls and the CHRC website were fully utilized in the development of the Agenda. The Agenda was developed in four (4) phases:
Phase 1 – Identification of Background Documents Key background documents were collated that highlighted the research related health issues that needed to be considered. These were shared with participants for consideration as they completed the questionnaires. Each participant received an electronic package that contained: • Caribbean Health Research Agenda Proposal • Caribbean Cooperation in Health III – the relevant Programme Area • Report of the Caribbean Commission on Health and Development • Health Research Policy for the Caribbean • Database of Caribbean HIV/AIDS Research (for Communicable Diseases Programme Area) • Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute: “Notes on Research Implications” (for Food and Nutrition Programme Area) All the documents listed above were also available on the CHRC website.
Phase 2 – Stakeholders Recruitment Relevant stakeholders were identified and invited to contribute to the development of the Agenda. They included:
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